Stan Smith book, the man behind Adidas’ best-selling sneakers

Former world number one U.S. tennis player, Stan Smith, has released a book titled “Stan Smith: Some People Think I’m a Shoe”, in reference to Adidas’ iconic leather sneaker range of the same name.

The tennis shoe model that gained popularity in the 1970s is still available today in a range of different colours for all genders and sizes; its minimalist style has become Adidas’ best-selling footwear model. The book, published by Rizzoli on August 24, features original imagery, historical photos, an exclusive portrait series by artist Juergen Teller, and contributions from style arbiters such as Raf Simons and musician Pharrell Williams, as well as an interview and anecdotes from the man behind the sneaker; Stan Smith himself.

Over the last five decades, 'the Stan Smith’ has remained the perennial icon of minimalist cool sneaker design but the man, Stan Smith himself, has often been forgotten, as he points out in the book.